Hello again, everyone! Since tomorrow (Saturday April 16) marks two weeks since the April 2022 General Conference, as time has allowed, I have updated several documents I have that relate to that conference. This post will share those documents. So first, I have a look back at my projections for the speaker lineup and how that compared with what we actually saw; my projections (and the results thereof) for changes in general Church leadership; and the list I had compiled of potential temple locations, with a look at what was actually announced.
I also went through and scored those predictions. For the speaker lineup, the changes in general Church leadership, and the potential temples, 3 points were possible for each element. A score of 3 for the speaker lineup meant I had the right person in the right slot in the right session. A score of 2 was awarded if I had a speaker in the correct session but the wrong order therein. A score of 1 was awarded if I was correct that an individual would speak at all during the conference, and a score of 0 meant someone I had predicted would speak did not do so.
Meanwhile, for the changes in general Church leadership, each possible element was worth 3 points. If an element I had predicted was not included, that was not considered in the scoring. I did not venture any predictions specific to individuals, and each predicted element was scored on a scale from 0-3, depending on how wrong or right I was about the element in question. That document also included the statistical elements I had projected vs. what was in the official release. Each of those elements was also scored from 0-3 within a margin of error that was individualized to the element involved.
As for the temple predictions, for each of the 17 announced, if I had the exact location, that was 3 points. 2 points were awarded if I had the right general location (nation, island, state, etc.) but the wrong specific location (city). And there were a few surprise locations (both of the Brazilian temples are an example), so allowances were also made for that.
Having posted that explanation, I have created a scoring overview accounting for the individual elements, then with a grand total. The results of that scoring have the accuracy of those predictions at a very respectable 64.5%, which, given all the surprises involved, is something I will gladly take. That would ordinarily conclude the analysis of my conference documents, but I am including some other documents with this analysis as well.
First up, I have compiled a list of the length of each talk given by our apostles during the April 2022 General Conference. Next, I have updated the total number of talks given by each of our apostles, along with a grand total of talks given by our current apostles, including those given before each became an apostle of the Church. And finally, based on the talk transcripts that have been released for the conference, I have crafted another document in which I offer projections for the table of contents for the May 2022 Liahona.
Regarding all of these documents, some may be concerned that the projections on my end are too speculative. But I continue to analyze patterns from the past in an effort to see how effectively I can predict the future on the known elements. This started out as something for just my own enjoyment, and I'm glad I can share such things with you all here. I am just as excited about any element of General Conference whether I have correctly or incorrectly predicted it. So hopefully, some of you might find these documents interesting.
I continue to monitor all major Church news and temple updates and will be sure to pass along word thereof to you all as those developments cross my radar. In the meantime, that does it for now. Any and all comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated, on any post at any time, as long as such feedback offered is consistent with the established guidelines.
I hope any of you who would like to share anything will take your opportunity to “sound off” in the comments below. Thank you for the privilege of your time. If you enjoyed what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly added content, please feel free to subscribe. Until my next post, I wish each one of you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
Hello again, everyone! I am pleased to be able to personally confirm that the groundbreaking for the Grand Junction Colorado Temple occurred as planned this morning. I had the privilege of being able to view that live. Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong, a Hong Kong native currently serving as First Counselor in the North America Central Area, and the incoming President of the same area (effective August 1 of this year) presided thereat. Reports on that groundbreaking are not currently available, but hopefully that will change soon.
ReplyDeleteIn the interim, here are the latest new reports from the Church News:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-04-16/reverse-open-house-series-inspired-by-d-c-temple-open-sacred-sites-interfaith-events-250744
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-04-16/sarah-jane-weaver-new-church-building-in-a-historic-location-social-hall-avenue-gathering-250629
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-04-16/washington-dc-reverse-open-house-plan-prepare-participate-interfaith-interactions-250742
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-04-16/music-and-the-spoken-word-come-and-see-jesus-easter-resurrection-250799
My thanks once again to you all.
And the Newsroom has now reported on the groundbreaking for the Grand Junction Colorado Temple:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/ground-broken-grand-junction-colorado-temple
My thanks once again to you all.
On this Easter Sabbath morning, I am pleased to be able to share one additional update that were reported yesterday after my latest comment above:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-04-16/elder-sister-jaggi-byu-hawaii-graduates-commencement-2022-rocks-president-kauwe-250893
And today, the Church News shared the following additional updates:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2022-04-17/church-growth-during-2021-graphics-statistical-report-members-missionaries-250012
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2022-04-17/week-in-review-first-presidency-easter-message-president-nelson-oldest-uchtdorf-poland-temples-phase-4-250953
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2022-04-17/elder-hollands-message-for-latter-day-saints-on-easter-and-every-day-of-the-year-jesus-christ-resurrection-250965
By way of reminder, the Easter Concert 2022 featuring the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square remains available for viewing anytime:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-04-08/tabernacle-choir-orchestra-easter-celebration-he-is-risen-streams-april-10-watch-250014
And although one of the links above shared a social media post from Elder Holland for Easter, a quick check of Facebook showed several posts from our apostles and the general officers of the Church, so it might be a good idea to check social media at some point today for those. But I'm hoping that the Church News might release an article later today entitled "This Easter on Social". I will pass that along if/when that is published. In the meantime, my thanks once again to you all.
Interestingly enough, Easter social media posts from the apostles and general officers were actually featured in the Newsroom this morning:
Deletehttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/leaders-testify-of-risen-christ-in-easter-social-posts
Those whose posts were featured included: Church President Russell M. Nelson; Acting President M. Russell Ballard and Elders Jeffrey R. Holland, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, Ronald A. Rasband, Gerrit W. Gong, and Ulisses Soares, all of whom are members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; outgoing Relief Society General President Sister Jean B. Bingham and her respective First and Second Counselors (Sisters Sharon Eubank and Reyna I. Aburto); Sister Michelle D. Craig, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency; outgoing Primary General President and imcoming Relief Society General President Sister Camille N. Johnson and her current Second Counselor, Sister Amy A. Wright (who will start serving as First Counselor to incoming Primary General President Sister Susan B. Porter on August 1).
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News also shared those posts:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2022-04-17/president-nelson-church-leaders-testify-of-the-savior-on-easter-social-media-250980
Here is some information about a JustServe project that was recently done in Idaho:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2022-04-17/justserve-idaho-falls-valentines-for-seniors-project-helps-thousands-250667
And as the VIP/Media tours get underway for the Washington D.C. Temple this week and next week, the Church is offering unprecedented access to the temple. Elders David A. Bednar and D. Todd Christofferson, who are in the nation's capital city to kick off the open house tours, made themselves available for an interview inside the temple with a journalist from CBS This Morning, with that journalist's interview segment airing during that program today:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/two-apostles-offer-unprecedented-look-into-washington-dc-temple
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2022-04-17/washington-dc-temple-elder-bednar-christofferson-cbs-sunday-morning-place-of-light-of-peace-250987
Additionally, on the threads of the newest post on the Church Growth Blog, Nancy, a frequent contributor to such threads who has also commented here periodically, noted that the Church had done preliminary work on the site of the Grand Junction Colordao Temple to the degree that, if all goes well, on Monday or Tuesday, full-scale costruction will begin on that temple. Those attendig the groundbreaking and/or will be patrons of that temple district were advised that the Church hopes to construct that temple within 18-24 months. If that schedule is maintained, then the Church could be looking to dedicate that temple sometime between late 2023 and early 2024. Not sure exactly how all that will work, but it did occur to me to wonder if the Grand Junction Temple will be a larger-sized modular temple. The smaller-sized 10,000 square foot modular design, according to Church leaders, allows construction of those sized temples to take only 13 months, so 18-24 months for something just over twice the size would make sense if it is built with a modular design. Just thought that was worth mentioning here as well. My thanks once again to you all.
Thank you for your updates and this blog
ReplyDeleteChris, you have been a long-time follower and good friend. Thanks for stopping by to weigh in as often as you feel inspired to do so, and for your kind words. Hope all is well with you. Stay safe out there!
DeleteAs we begin a brand new week, the Church News has shared the following new update:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2022-04-18/bega-valley-australia-bushfires-water-tank-donations-250831
Additionally, both the Newsroom and the Church News have shared information about the beginning of the Washington D.C. Temple Open House. Elders David A. Bednar and Gerrit W. Gong, who are members of the Temple and Family History Executive Council (with Elder Bednar being the Chairman thereof), led the preliminary VIP/Media tours:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/washington-dc-temple-open-house
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/multimedia/file/english-dc-press-kit-2022.pdf
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2022-04-18/washington-d-c-temple-open-house-interior-images-historical-photos-open-house-251008
Interestingly enough, the Church News coverage correctly states public tours will begin on April 28, but incorrectly notes that the open house will conclude on June 11. As we know, in late January, the Temple Department noted that the open house will be extended as needed, with the rededication rescheduled from June 19 to August 14:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/washington-dc-temple-rededication-date-change
If I had to guess, I'd say it's possible that open house tours may continue through mid-to-late July, leaving the Church 2-3 weeks to make the temple ready for the August 14 rededication. Additionally, the question of who might preside over that rededication remains unanswered. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say that it might be either President Oaks or Elders Cook or Christofferson, who, as former lawyers, all spent some time in the nation's capital. My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has shared one additional update:
Deletehttps://www.thechurchnews.com/global/2022-04-18/fiji-youth-young-adult-service-project-painting-250842
And it appears that there may be some temple updates to pass along as well. If so, I will be back with those shortly. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
Updates have been provided on the statuses of the following temples: Coban Guatemala, Washington D.C., Salt Lake, Farmington New Mexico, and Elko Nevada:
Deletehttps://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/coban-guatemala-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/washington-d.c.-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/salt-lake-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/farmington-new-mexico-temple/
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/elko-nevada-temple/
My thanks once again to you all.
Is there a public explanation for why certain temples like DC are built with full priesthood meeting rooms like Kirtland?
ReplyDeleteForgive my ignorance if this is explained in the media tour, I will have to watch later this evening
Great question, Danny. Assembly rooms were planned for some of the earlier temples for the purpose of holding Solemn Assemblies. As we know, when a new prophet is sustained in his first General Conference, that process is designated as a solemn assembly. The setup of those rooms allowed the various quorums and groups of priesthood leaders to be seated together when a solemn assembly was held.
DeleteThe St. George Utah Temple renovation includes a planned restoration of the assembly room in that temple. Since solemn assemblies have not occurred in those assembly rooms for a while, the goal may be to have places where, as directed, solemn assemblies unrelated to sustaining new leadership may be held. The last solemn assembly was held during a portion of the Sunday Morning Session of the April 2020 General Conference:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/solemn-assembly-hosanna-shout-april-2020
Additional solemn assemblies could be held in the Assembly Rooms of temples, but would likely not be publicly broadcast. Hope that answers your question,Danny. Thanks for asking about this.